Make Antioxidant-Rich Foods a Part of Every Meal

Posted April 5, 2017

It’s so easy after a long day to reach for a bag of chips or brownie instead of carrot sticks or an apple. You are not the only one. The majority of people eat too many of the wrong kind of foods because they have never developed a taste for healthier foods such as broccoli, yogurt or salmon. Old habits are hard to break, but not impossible. Below we identify what makes a superfood, and some easy ways to incorporate them into our daily diet.

First of all, what is a super food? A superfood is a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being. For instance, here are some common superfoods: aloe vera’s inner leaf gel, broccoli, blueberries, beans, oats, salmon, spinach, green tea, tomatoes, lean turkey, walnuts, and yogurt.

Each day, you should be incorporating lots of seasonal fruits, fresh vegetables, nuts, dairy, and beans into your diet. Adding all of these new foods into your daily meals may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. You don’t have to eat all superfoods at once you can start small and make small dietary tweaks, one at a time until they become healthy habits. Something as simple as choosing a whole grain over a refined grain is a step in the right direction.

Here are 10 tips on how to add superfoods into your diet:

Blend It: Smoothies are a great way to blend fruit and yogurt into a tasty snack. Add in some aloe vera for digestion and blood sugar management benefits. The inner leaf of the aloe vera leaf contains powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds that can do wonders for our health and immunity.

Top It: Dark leafy greens, nuts, and tomatoes add wonderful flavor to salads and sandwiches. Spinach can make a homemade pizza go from good to great, and crunchy whole grain can transform yogurt from boring to a party.

Puree It: Changing the texture is a sneaky way to add foods into your diet. A puree of roasted vegetables makes a delicious sauce for chicken or fish, while pureed potatoes can add depth to your soups and casseroles.

Stir It In: Pack diced or pureed vegetables into soups, stews, omelets, and marinara sauce to up the nutritional value.

Substitute It: Use yogurt instead of oil in baked goods or dressings, sweet potatoes in place of white potatoes, and spaghetti squash for pasta.

Roast, Grill or Broil It: Fruits and Veggies take on a whole new exciting flavor once caramelized.

Bake It: Walnuts and berries can add some pizazz to any baked good.

Dip It: Fruits and vegetables come alive when paired with a healthy dip like hummus or greek yogurt. This will be a big hit with the kids.